Key-guard



H. J.v NIELSEN. KEY GUARD. Hummm man wav. su, i917.

Lgm Patented Feb. 15, 1921i.

I8 nvomkoz 46 Mmm l00` EANSJ'. NIELSEN, OE MAYEBI, ARIZONA.

KEY-GUARD.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

Application filed NovemberV 30, 1917. Serial No. 204,542.

To all whom t may concer-n: Be it known that I, HANS J. NinLsnN, citizen ofthe United States, residing at Mayer,

in the county of Yavapai and State of Arizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved device for preventing keys from being inadvertently carried away by guests or patrons of a public house or institution.

The invention has for its object the provision of a device similar to those now in use, but one which will be readily convertible into a different position at the will of the owner or `custodian of the key to be protected, in which position itrwill assume an irregular or unwieldy shape which will I naterially lessen the possibility of its being carried away by absentminded persons using said key.

vso

The invention willbe hereinafter fully set forth Yand particularly pointed outin the claims. l c

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a front view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of same. Fig. Bis a side view in a possible position. Fig. 4 is aV perspective view in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a modied detail. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts thereof in another position.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig.8 is a view ofthe key for unlocking the lock of the modified form of my inven-V tion shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the latch, spring andkey of the lock of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 1. Y

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates an appendage or lreminder to be attached to a key. Obviously Vthis may be of any shape, but in this case that of, a star is chosen because of the irregularity of its outer edge.

At its uppermost point the reminder 1 isV provided with a ring 2 having a. centra-l hole 8a adapted to engage a link or chain attached to a key. The reminder 1 is composed of two members` 3 andV 4 hinged' together as shown at 6. YThe member 3 is similar in form to the member4 except that it has no ring attached, and its lower portion below the hinge is cut away to allow it to move outwardly and downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Said member 3 has in place of the ring at its uppermost extremity, an outturned point, as shown at 5, to facilitate the opening or spreading of the members 3 and 4.

The member 3 has on its outer surface a lock 7, opposite a keyhole 8, in which is a post 9, on which is slidable vertically a latch 10, having a vertical slot 11. The latch is actuated by one end of a spring 12, secured to the side wall of the lock, said end bearing against the top of the latch 10. The opposite end 15, of said spring is bent inwardly from the wall of the lock and adapted to engage a notch 13 in the latch. rlie latch 10 is bent at its lower end forming a short Vtransverse member 14, substantiallyl at right angles to the vertical portion. The said transverse member 14 is engaged in a slot 16 in the member 4.

ln the normal positionv of the reminder (see Fig. 1) it will be seen that the pressure of the spring is against the upper end of thelatch, the downward motion being ar; rested by the transverse member of the latch which bears against the lower edge of the slot'16. Then the reminder is opened and the member 3 assumes a position at right angles to the member 4 the pressure of the spring upon the latch forces said latch through the slot 16, because of the fact that the transverse member of said latch is now in a position which oiiers no resistance to the spring. It will be readily seen that by this arrangement, the device will be held in a substantially rigid position because of the contact of the edge of the lock (as shown at 17, Fig) with the surface of the member 4, while the lower surface of the latch bears against the lower edge of the slot 16.

The device is held by these opposed iinpediments and locked by the engagement of the notch 13 with the end of spring 15. It will require a key in the possession of the custodian to release the lock and restore the device to its normal or closed position for storage.

1n the modiiication shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a latch of a. different construction is used and the slot 16 in the former figures is dispensed with. In said Figs. 5 and 6, 101 indicates a modified latch having a reduced portion 18, surrounding which is coiled spring 19, the one end of which bears against the upper wall of the lock and the opposite end against the shoulder formed by the reduced member V18. The opposite end of said latch 10a, is rounded as shown at 20, to facilitate `its entry into a recess 21, punched or stamped into the member 4 of the reminder.'

This construction avoids the possibility of the llatch being broken or interfered with from therear. Y

On the latch 10 is a pin 30. A key 31 has two diametrically opposed lugs 32. and 33. The end of the key is recessed to fit on the post 9 and the lugs 32 andv 33'respectively engage spring 15 and pin 30, when the key is turned, to disengage spring l5 from latch notch 13 and to withdraw the latch inwardly through slot 16 to unlock the device so that the members 3 and 4 may be closed.

VThe engaging end of the latch 10"l is reduced, forming shoulders 4()v for engaging lugs 41 on the lock casing tolimit the outward movement of the latch. The lock has a key post 42 extending into a recess 43 in the latch 10a, a shoulder 44 being formed at one side of the recess to be engaged by the key 45 to withdraw the latch from recess 2l to unlock thevdeyice. The lock 'casing has a keyhole 46 through whichY the key is insertedinto the lock.

n, Having thus explained. the nature of the invention, and described an operative Vmanner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forthall of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, the following is claimed zl 1. 'An attachment for keys comprising two sections Vhaving a hinged connection, one of the sections being provided with means whereby it may be attached to the section, the other section having a complemental portion toireceive said bolt to lock said sections in angular relation. l

3. An attachment for keysY comprising Ytwo sections having a hinged connection,

oneof the sections being provided with means whereby it may be attached to a key, a slidable boltcarried by one-)of said sections, the other sections having a comple-V mental portion tol receive said bolt for locking said sections in angular relation, and means for normally preventing movement of said bolt.

4. An attachment for keys comprising twoV sections having a hingedv connection, one of the 'sections being `provided with means whereby it may be attached to akey, said section being'provided with a slot, and a slidable bolt carried by the other section and provided with an offset portion project-V ing through said slotV forlocking the sections in angular relation.

5.- An attachment forv keys comprisingtwo sections having a 'hinged connection, one of the sections being provided with mea-ns whereby it may be attached to a key, a slidable boltcarried by the other section,

said bolt having a'fnotch, the first mentioned section having a complemental portion to receive said bolt for locking the sections in angular relation, and a spring. acting to move said bolt and having an arm to enga-ge said notch. f' i Y In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.v

' HANS J. NIELSEN. 

